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DAVID B. ROBB 

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Two Copies KeceiyiKi 

JAN 14 1908 

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OLA 



COPYRIGHT 1907 
BY DAVID B. ROBS 



i 



AUTHOR'S PREFACE. 



Fellow-workmen: I take this opportunity of 
placing before you (in book form) a few of my 
Poems and Essays, which have appeared in the 
United Mine Workers' Journal and other papers 
from time to time; and feeling, as I do, that this 
departure is fraugiht with all the uncertaimties of 
"Book Life" and the inconsiderate feelings of ad- 
verse critics: I offer this small volume for general 
perusal, and the Intellectual improvement of the 
wage-workers. 

My chief purpose is to give the cause of organ- 
ized labor ithe 'benefiit of these thouglits, matured 
in my hou-rs of leisure — or if you wiill — my hiighes. 
thoughts and aspirations at the lowest possiible 
cost, and w'hen I learn that they are being read -by 
the miners, or the members of kindred organiza- 
tions, I sha'll be amply compensated for the time I 
have spent in this humble effort to educate or ele- 
vate the workers. 

D. B. ROBB. 

Rose Farm, Ohio. Dec. 1, 1907. 




\eri/ *Jt*uly ^ours, 

3)€ivid SB, SRahh 



POEMS AND ESSAYS 
FOR THE WORKERS 



A PETITION. 

O God! bestow on me tihe power to wrAte 

In simple lines — The Uuiversa'l Plan; 

And grant me strengtih and wisdom, zeal and might 

To teach and harmonize my brother man. 

Ungodly are the scenes wih'ioh round us float. 

In this eventful world of social strife, 

Where man is like a crew-abandoned boat. 

Drafting along t)he endless stream of life. 

Untiring Time rolls on with steady pace. 
The tides, the winds and planets keep their course; 
But man can crusih a brother of his race 
WiTjhout tihe s^lightest tincture of remorse. 
W'hy are tthose men unprincipiled and liarsih? 
W!hy not be bound by love's great social links? 
T'hey keep their unpaid hireling in a marslli 
Wiho strives to rise, but rising deeper slinks. 

It burns my heart, whene'er I look abroad^ — 

And view those men, to whom such pow'r is given; 

Suclh pow'r abused, in sight of Thee — O God! 

Would make tihe angels weep, before high heaven. 

Eternal King! of endless, Iboundless worth. 

To you I huimlbly tender this petition: 

To teach the Rights of Man whiile here on earth 

f vow great power, this is my sole amhition. 



POEMS AND ESSAYS 

DEMOCRACY'S 31 ARCH. 

Sons of freedom, rise and rally. 

Round your leaders, name fthe day; 
Make a bold, united sail'ly, 

'Gainst tihe foTce that bars the way. 
Justice claim for every worker. 

Equal O'portunity; 
Bread for all except the shirker, 

Earth a fi'ee community. 

W(here's the force that can resist you? 

Marching forward >hand in hand. 
Unity wtill noiw assist you 

Onward, upward, powerful band. 
Claim the air, the earth, the sunlight, 

Man's imheritance from God — 
Powerful Demos claim your Mrthrig-ht — 

Beat the track your ifathers trod. 

\^'^ihat is life to those who labor 

On ifrom early morn till nig*ht, 
Scarceily time to greet your neiighbor. 

Or assist him in the fight. 
Why not cihange it now — forever — 

You have power <if used ariglht; 
Burst the bond-chains, make them sever, 

Life will then the sweet and bright. 

There are miany snares to lure you, 

From the patli wihich unward tends — 
Seek that course wihlc'h will assure you 

Happiness wihere misery ends. 
Trust not those who first will greet you; 

Gold, for purpose, they may give; 
Common sense will never ciheat you 

TMs tihe world's alternative. 

Churchmen preach the world's salvation 

These they threaten, those enchant, 
Churning Love thro' black Damnation 

Vdid of substance, idle cant. 
Trust in God and bounteous nature 

Jusitice, Truth and Liberty; 
Let this be your leading feature 

— Universal Equity. 



FOR THE WORKERS 

Parties figiht to gain position, 

Baoh thetir interests to promote- 
But itlieir ilaw is your deoision, 

If you exercise your vote. 
Do not trust the proud and wealthy 

Nor a base pHutocracj'^; 
Trust yo'urselves to raise a ihealthy, 

Wise and great democracy. 
Rose Farm, Ohio, 1903. 

THE CH.1INS OF TOIL. 

The cihains of (toil are circling round the heroes of 
the ihour, 

And every link that's cast anew it lessens Labor's 

power, 
Wihile clouds looim up en every side to darken 
Freedom"s cause 
And crusih us down 
With angry frown. 
Or class-exacted law®. 

A cry of discontent resounds from Washington to 
Mia^ine; 

From Michigan to Texas we can feel tihe power of 
gain. 

While graft and greed or judge-made la\i foretell 
the coming storm, 

W'hiclh aims to cruS'H 

Witih'out a blush 
The helpless toiling worm. 

Those words of Lincoln ring today, w^ho prophesied 
arigiht; 

He urged Ms countrymen to guard against the 

coming fight, 
And seer-like spoke of graver things which faced 
the people then — 
That lives today, 
Th' industrial fray. 
Inspired by iheartless men. 

Where kingly power exalted is inspired by princely 

laime. 
Can people feel then bound — and yet, can freemen 

hide their shame? 



8 POEMS AND ESSAYS 

ColumiMa boasts t'hat all are free — that men are 
equail here; 

But men ihave bled 

For Preedami — ^dead, 
And angells guard her bier. 

Where is that patriotic fire w^hicih gave this natlion 

life? 
Where is the (hand to guide the ihelm of state 

throughout the sitriife; 
No Waisbington or Dlncoln lives to set the workers 
free; 
And trusts control 
A nation — wthole. 
That pawned lits Liberty. 

Arise! Arise! Columbia, land claim your own again; 
No foreign foe surrounds your shores, no menace 

o'er the main ; 
You freed the slaves of chatteil birtih, you gave 
tihem liberty; 
Then free us all 
Froim graft and gall, 
And crown posterity. 

Rose Farm, Ohiio, October 7, 1907. 

IN MEMORY OF KTHEL \nNEFORDNER. 
(Written by Request.) 

Wfhen irksome gloom o'erspreads the earth, 

It speaks approaoMng night; 
At early dawn the sun gives bdrth 

To day when all is bright; 
But autumn came with falling leaf 

And eke that painful day 
Wlhiiclh filled our home with endless grief 

And caliled on Ethel May. 

Full nineteen years she blessed our home. 

And was our only child, 
Wiho owned these charms whioh s'hould 'become 

A majiden undefiiled. 
But queenly chanimis are rarely given. 

She came, not here to stay, 
Suoh gems are only lent from beaven. 

And suclh was Etihel May. 



FOR THE WORKERS 

Beloved by all and friend of all, 

Impairtiatl, kind and true; 
Inspired by God at friendsihip's call, 

And every clDild she knew. 
But now, alas! her work is o'er. 

And God has called her hence. 
To share with Him forevermore 

That heavenly recompense. 

Silee]) on, dear daughter, death's long sleep. 
Your earthly journey's done: 

Your kindness lives, ibut sEill we weep, 
You left us all alone: 

But God who rules the eamh and skies 
Will hear us day .by day, 

Until we meet in paradise 
Our daug^hter, Ethel May. 



1906. 



^lODKRX TRADES UNIONISM. 

Come join our band of workers who have organ- 
ized for right — 

To stay aggression on our craft from those with 
wealth and mig'ht, 

Who long have tried to beait us down and crush 
the workers' cause — 

But to gain our end we'M change the men who 
make the nation's laws. 

in days gone by we organized the workers' cause 

supreme. 
To cilaiim a share of labor's wealth, to feed the toil 

machine ; 
But wihile those claims are justified, we must 

evolve — ^^because 
The men are not the workers' friends who make 

the nation's laws. 

Our guiding maxim — ^hist'ry proves — we claimed 

that right was might, 
In many a stubborn contest, in many a hard-foug'hf 

fight; 



Ii» POEMS AND ESSAYS 

But we must cihange our tactics by amending all 

those flaAVTs 
In the House of Representatives whiioh makes the 

nation's laws. 

We have legislators (party men) and seldom you 

Willi find 
Amongst them all "a people's mian," but has an 

"ax to grind;" 
We have mming magnates, railroad kings, wiho 

talk to gain appilause, 
(Besides our votes to cut our throats) those men 

wiho make the laws. 

Our two great parties in the State are men of 

wealth and ease, 
And matters not how we dictate, their party they 

must please; 
But really, these two parties are, as tMs inference 

draws, 
The workers and the shirkers, but the latter make 

the laws. 

Now let us join together, by advancing with tihe 

times. 
And hoist the flag of labor, as they've done in other 

climes; 
But every worker must unifte, and each make coira- 

mon cause. 
By returning men to Congress to amend our labor 

laws. 
Rose Farm, Ohio, Oct. 18, 1904. 



^HNERS' PARLIAMENTARY REI RESENT ATION. 

I've been reading your paper, as every week ends, 
O* a man ye ca' "Fairplay" w^ha naebody kens. 
He may be a "Big Bug," but you ken yersel'. 
And, if its your duty, be suir an' no tell. 

Since tlie questions appeared, I hiv thocht on a 

name; 
And if I am richt, sAv, he's guid at the game. 
Altlho' he attacks tme as ane in a place, 
Yet I'm only a miner, which bears nae disgrace. 



FOR THE WORKERS 11 

Since this siclieme 'has 'been started, this chap that 

I mean 
Has hinted, and twisted, and carried Ms spleen 
Tae a pitch that a fellow o' guid Scottisih Muid 
Wid chase Mm riciht oot o' the place wibar he'd liid. 

lie styles himsel' "Fairpilay," but Guid only knows. 
And yerseir, "Mr. Editor," I may "suppose. 
But! if he was a man, and an honest Scotch chiel, 
He wid oot wi' his name, tho' opposed tae the Deil 

Tae the wark folk o' Ga'ston I beg an excuse 
For writing tae papers and trying the muse, 
riil ne'er be a poet, I iha'na the nit. 
But tae knuckle tae "Fairplay" I'll hardly submit. 

Noo tMs scheme o' the miners is no sae ill timed, 
For the builders o' Engines and Boilers have 

joined; 
Tho' I favor the scheme I am not its designer, 
I just had a'e vote. Sir, alang wi' the mmer. 

In conclusion, dear readers, an advice I will gtie 
Tae the writers o' letters wha ask for "Fairplay," 
If you want tae get lear, gie your name, that's tke 

plan. 
And if vour siarcastic be suir o' your man. 



AN APPEAL TO REASON. 

If Christ were seni on earth today 

To judge the human race, 
And let us all pursue our way 

In daily life and place. 
What just pronouncement could He give 

(To judge impartially) 
But this — "O mankind, you may live, 

But live unequally." 

Earth abounds witlh imperfections, 

GuMty men I see; 
Power usurDed, by close detection. 

All appears to me. 



^2 POEMS AND ESSAYS 

Tj-.rants live and spendthrifts revel, 

Butra-esised up with gain; 
Fiic-ihed from Ijaibor's lower level 

Stdll her sons sustajin. 

Such a system — ^trade perveited 

Rolbb'ry, grab and greed; 
Oft her Kaders have assserted: 

"Workmgmen, tailje heed! ' 

Radly, hrotihers. swell youir numbers 

If you would be free; 
Privilege sweflls, but Labor slumbers 

Strike for Liberty! 

Where are those I sent as teachers 

For My flock on earth? 
Mendicants, and monks, and preacihers 

Preach for wfhat it's wort'h. 

Scattered over My dominion 

Sects and factions grow; 
Churches, chapels, false opinion, 

Chaos reigns below! 

Churchmen keep on moralizing 

Life to perfect "here; 
But wh/iile they are oraidzing 

Are their words sincere? 

Men and women flock to ihear tihem, 

Children go to learn; 
All are spell'bound wih'ile they're near them. 

Still I can discern. 

Want of courage, want of spirit, 

Charity and love; 
T/hese can win true Tieavenly merit, 

But — Grod niust approve. 

Kings and Emp'rors rule the nations 

Claimed by "Right Divine;" 
Why believe such fabrications? 

Ornaments, they shine. 



FOR THE WORKEKS 13 

Useful not, nor self-susta'ining, . 

Bmrdensome are they; 
Freedom sihrinks wthile they are reigning- 

Omt, aad clear the way! 

Is it better wihere the people 

C'lai'm that they are free? 
Does that freedom tend to treat all 

ManMnd equailly? 

Neither commonwealth nor kingdom 

Practice as designed; 
Truth and honesity have winged on, 

Leaviing them bethind. 

Great republics rise land flourisih, 

Kingdoms swell with pomp; 
But 't is Labor's sons that nourish. 

O'er her rights they romp. 

Governments forswear their duty. 

Yea, to 'man and God, 
Where they g*ive the r'ich the booty 

And <the poor the load. 

This is not as God has willed it. 

Nor as He designed; 
Wihen He made the earth He filled it — 

Plenty for mankind. 

Rise, ye slaves! and oast your fetters 

To the winds of heaven! 
God commands, in brilliant letters, 

"Take wihat I have given." 
Rose Farm, Ohio, Marcli 11, 1905. 



THE MINERS' LIFE. 

The miners' 'life is full of trou'bles, 
Always present, never late; 

All his ihopes are burst like bubbles, 
Then he's 'left again to Fate. 



14 POEMS AND ESSAYS 

Hopes, I say, for that's what keeps Mm 
Toiling on from day to day — 

An'd ihis master will not seek hdm 
If ihis labor can not pay, 

I have ofiten thought it over. 

Of the power which (he's possessed, 

But I've failed yet to discover 
Why ihe stands to be oppressed. 

This is true, though you mtay scoff it, 
We are only toil machines; 

Simply used for making profit 

For the men who lay t'he sohemes. 

NVihen he first sets on his journey, 
Nothing daunts ih'im, all is joy; 

Sympathy may whisper, turn ye, 
But 'it's nothing to the boy. 

On he trudges, night and moirning, 
Thinking nothing of his fate; 

Every danger bravely scorning. 
But, alias! lit is too late. 

Destiny has placed Mm hither, 

And his future is to toil. 
Till he seeks that rest — forever 

Underneath the cold, damp soil. 

Where are they t'hat have compassion 
On the workers underground? 

Ask not those that "lead the fashion;" 
As)k yoursellves, and it is found. 

Mining as an occupation 

Hard and dang'rous, brutal is; 

Envy not Ms situation, 
Suoh a fickle job is this. 

Will (he ever learn th'is lesson? 

And no longer be a fool; 
Organize to stem aggression. 

Face united those that rule. 



FOR THE WORKERS 

This is life among the masses, 
A)ll is toiil, and want, and care; 

But compare it with tlie classes — 
And ihow d'iff'rently they fare. 

Life is sweet to those that toil least — 
Care has vanished, all is bliss; 

Buit tihe workers, they have no feast, 
And must iMse or suffer this — 

Let us all be up and doing, 

Help eadh other in tihe fight; 

While the "cause" we are pursuing, 
Teach the workers Right is Might. 

Onward, upward, ever raising, 
Never let us bow the knee — 

Keep the fire of labor blazing 
Till the workers all are free. 
Rose Farm, Ohio, 1901. 



ine.s Written by Request, on the Death of Thonias 
Conghtine (my uncle), Whose Home Was 
in New StraitsviUe, Ohio. 

A fonm has vanished from this hearth, 
A parent fond — companion dear; 

His dhair is vacant at our heartJh, 

His plleasant voice no more we'll hear. 

A loMing husband, and a guide 

Along the ~rough pathway of life: 

A father kind — who loath to Chide 
He lived to love, or banish strife. 

His face familiar^ — -nevermore 

Will grace our homes with parent smile; 
Xo more he'll greet us at his door 

Where iove abounded all the while. 

He's gone beyond the pale of woe. 

His earthly suff'dngs now are o'er; 
His iife. thoug*h ended here below, 

Begins upon a brighter sihore. 



16 POEMS AND ESSAYS 



Where all <is iharmony and joy! 

Wihere envy, hate and wrath shall cease! 
Where God controls without alloy! 

And now his asihes rest in peace. 
1904. 



INAUGURATION DAY. 

Come let us join together all — ^both men and maid- 
ens giay, 

And ceilebrate as citizens "Inauguration Day." 

Our nation is in 'holiday, so let us all rejoice; 

And hail our first Executive, a mighty nation's 
cihoice. 

Chorus. 

Shout ihurraih! Columbia, 
Join with heart and hand; 
God has sent a President 
To guard and rule our land. 
Raise on ihigh the Stars and Stripes; and sing with 

heart and voice 
In honor of our President, a mighty naition's 
choice. 

From our long line of Prasddents we've had some 

noble men, 
Wlho always proved of peerless worth, no matter 

how, or when 
Our Republic was in danger — througih home or 

foreign foes; 
To save our constitution grand — some matcliiless, 

heroes rose. 

Sihout hurraih! etc. 

God gave to us a Washington to crush a tyrant's 
power ; 

And gave to us a Mncoln in tihe nation's darkest 
hour. 

And our illustrious statesmen who must hear t)he 
nation's load. 

Have gained the people's confidence and won re- 
spect abroad. 

Shout hurrah! etc. 



FOR THE WORKERS 17 

All honor to our President our nation's clMef — 

select 
Of eighty million subjects ihe has won our joint 

respect ; 
We dla'im a corisittution which has surely come to 

stay. 
And 'hail our worthy President's "Inauguration 

Day." 

Shout hurrah! etc. 
Ro.se Farm, Ohio, Jan. 28, 190 5. 



LINES TO THE SUN. 

O! blessed orb of endless light, 
Your labor has tbis day begun; 

And many a weary soul e're night 
Will have recorded — labor done. 

O! ball of fire, but friend of man, 

I greet you here another day; 
Your home is space, and worlds your span 

To rule throughout Eterniity. 

Thy presence fair at early dawn 

Creation moves — your charms begin; 

Wihen man must toil, tihe beasts will roam. 
And birds and insects take the wiing. 

Thy rays bring forth the s'peckled Hark, 
W'hicih soaring, sings in Suimimer time; 

Your I'igiht diffusing guides the barque. 
And laden s/hips to every clime. 

One smile from thee awaits' the flowers 
Wihen each uplifts its drooping head; 

The dial stone records the hours. 
By your instructions it i's read. 

Wihen Spring appears your face sutolime 
GMves force to Nature — life to aW — 

You rule supreme in Summer time. 

And golden Autumn marks your fall. 



IS POEMS AND ESSAYS 

In Winter bleak wit'h -snow-clad earth 
Yon oheer the gloom with sllant'ing ray; 

Creation s'houts aloud your worth! 

A servant bounteous nigiht and day. 

If mian would but example take 

Prom thee — Perfection — light and life. 

And raise eaoh unit, none forsake 
Unite his fellows — end the strife — 

Not till he tries, will he ever succeed 
In raising his fellows, he must sacrifice; 

Self has no name in a noble kind deed; 
Kindness and Love is a true Pairadise. 
January, 190 4. 



THE WIND. 

List! 't is the wtind. like the wail of the weary, 
With isoui-troubled longings for silent repose; 

Bitter it bites in the Winter so dreary — 
Spreads' desoliation wherever it goes: 

Weak not, nor soundless, endless and boundless, 

Free, yet invisihle, ever it blows. 

Hark! 'tis the wind, as a tempest it rushes. 
Angry, iimipatlent, and king of the stoTm; 

Mighty, triu'miDihianit, he everything cruslhes. 
Powerless befiore him is every form. 

Rearing, careering, forward and steering, 

Onward! destruction! no force can reform — 

Hush! 'tiis the Zephyr, it doiefully glidet'h, 
Over the mountains, the valleys and dales; 

Boreas, the sitorm-king. it playfully chidet/h 

Nature, in sipring time its fond breath inhales: 

Wellcome iby mankind, to arbor and verdure 

Welcome siimplicity, everything hails! 
1903. 



FOR THE WORKERS 19- 

MAN AND ADVERSITY. 

There is a time in man's career 

When 'all is dark, his lite ds chaos; 
His every effort practiced here, 

Seems, as opposed to heavenly pathos: 
And W'hile those efforts lack results 
Wiho knows but what reverse exailts? 
This man who in despairing mood, 
Wihose 'hope lies in his fortitude. 

We see him struggling on through life, 

He toils to live, he loves for pleasure; 
And aU his hopes to sinuooth the strife, 

Is love returned, an earthly treasure. 
Then sho'uld disaster come Ihis way. 
He fails, though trying day by day; 
His partner w^ho if constant, sihe 
Can clheer him with that constancy. 

Could man but know the higlher plan 

As skeitcihed throughout the Grand Design 
A just reward, since time began, 

To all bestows, in every line: 
But man's impulse with patience frail, 
His faitlh recedes, Ms woe^ entail 
Abundant tiardsihips, and a load — 
W'hich vanisiheth by trusting God. 
Feb. 1904. 



AX HONEST TAIiE SPEEDS BEST, BEING 
PLAIN^.Y TOLD." 

There's not a day that passes by, 

In man's brief journey through 

This life of toil and worry, 

But some fancy meets our view. 

Some take to sport and so^me to dress. 

Or pleasure's enmpty fad; 

But this, ray fancy — stirred no less 

Than by my writing "Pad." 



POEMS AND ESSAYS 

A maxim true this Pad contains, 

A guiding truth to man, 

Which, tihougih we shun, it stiil reimains, 

Dissemble those that can, 

It through iihe past Jias always shone, 

A guide to young and old 

"An ihonest tale speeds furthest on. 

If it he plainly told. 

Some search the Scriptures through ana 

through. 
And books of olassiie loi'e, 
They seek for maxims oild and new. 
Add knowledge to tihe'ir store; 
But if perdhance they mean to teach. 
This statement I make bold, 
Learn that your words will furtlier reach, 
If tihey be plainly told. 

We often read how kings advise. 
How statesmen grow so great; 
Each nation on those men relies. 
To gudde tbe "Ship of State," 
But if those kings and statesmen try, 
Wlhiile they, their plans unfold; 
To gain our trust, to edify. 
They must be plainly told. 

The parsons preach to ihlgh and low 

Of how we ail should dive; 

Of how to Hove both fr*iend and foe; 

Of how, and when to give; 

But let me here remind tihem all 

Wihen counselling their fold, 

That God, the judge of great and small. 

Knows if (it's plainly told. 

We roam this world on "wings of hope" 

Eacih thinks ^his chance the (best, 

We never pause, nor call a stop 

To reason what's our quest; 

But there again I urge my tslalim, 

To all who seek for Gold, 

An honest word, in search of Gain, 

Wiiill speed, if plainly told. 



FOR THE WORKERS 21 

Our itenure here, is but a guess, 

So, wihy should love not sihine? 

Wlhether our lot is married bliss. 

Or bud'diing love^ — divine. 

Some, different forms of love will sihow 

But true love ne'er gets cold, 

High honor's taile wtill furthest go 

If it be plainly told. 

Vx^ihen entering on life's brief patih. 

We often make siome friends. 

And let us prize them, those that Jiatih, 

True friendship never ends; 

But, ilest we err on friendsMp's side, 

There's tales we must withhold, 

Remember tales are magnified, 

Even, tihoug'h they're plainly told. 

In summing up my muse at last! 
I caution those who reiad 
These few short /lines that I (have cast. 
May each and all take -heed. 
If God so wills it, we s'ha.11 sihine, 
A guide to young and old: 
Our words will float the stream of Time, 
If only pilainly told. 
Dec. 1903. 



Extract from a Letter to a Fidend. 

The watohword of Philanthropy is, if you've got, 

be giving; 
Give every cent that you can spare, to keep the 

people llviing; 
But if the people alll would think, and try to 'help 

themselves, 
Then aill our good Philanthropists could be put up 

on sihelves. 



Extract fi'om a Letter to a Xear Friend. 

The proper place for men of bTains, is post and 

honor in a State; 
The proper place for those without — is but to serve 

and mourn their fate. 



2 2 POEMS AND ESSAYS 

l)oscrii>'^ion of New York to a Friend. 

EverytJiing is profit-makdng, and commercial 

bustle; 
But Ihiose wiio try to gain the First, must like the 

Second, hu&tle. 



Linos oil {he Eve of the Miners' Convention in Co- 
himbus, 1904. 

We're met dear bretih'ren now, to speak tihe minds 

of those we left beihind who sent us here; 
We bring with us their confidence, and trust that 

harmony will reign throughout the year: 
Our dlaims are truly just, to bring good cheer to 

homes and waves, and offspring whom we love; 
And hope our counsel whatsoe'er it ibe, shall win 

the approving smale of Him above. 

Dispel all rankle, enimity or 'hate, be guided by the 

Law of Commonsense; 
If Reason be applied in every case. Progress, 1 

hold — ^sihall be our irecoimpense: 
And while I know our "findings" must go 'hence 

for final confirmation, ne'er recoil 
From duty, be courageous, sympathiise with those 

we left behind — The Sons of Tdil. 



THE IDEAL OF LIFE. 

Can you tell me love, is youT heart still true? 

Is your pledge sdncere as of yore? 
Can i hope for those smiles when we both were 
young? 

When the sunshine of life lay before — 
I ihave cherished in mem'ry your words to me then. 

And I ask you that piledge to renew; 
How I long for that smile so inspiring to me, 

When you murmured "I'll ever be true." 



FOR THE WORKERS 2 3 

I've been wai'ting years for your answer, love, 

For the time when we both would be one; 
I have treasured that lock of your golden hair. 

Which you gave m'e wihen leaving my home. 
I have lived for the tlime, love, when first we would 
meet, 

T have loved you in lands o'er the sea; 
And I only now as-k you, your pledge to redeem, 

That united and happy we may he. 

Rose Farm, Ohio, 190 4. 



Lines on the Death of a Fellow-Miner. 

Come gather round and listen to my tale. 

Draw nigh and hear my m.use — .the labor plan; 
Ot flow we all oua- ihelpless lot bewail. 

Of how we view tihat gulf 'twixt man and man. 
Each workman, in his way, puts forth his case. 

To tell of trade — conditions iill or good— 
Of every vice attenidant on his race 

Of every Virtue rightly understood. 

Attention give ye. sons of rustic toil. 

A t(hougihtful moment, now, from you I crave: 
While heedilessily we struggle throug-h life's moil, 

Some weary, toil-worn worker seeks the grave. 
That ultiimate of man, eternal rest. 

Where all ^his troubles cease, which ends his care 
Where Prince and Miner each at God's behest, 

Forthwith must to tlhat dark ahode repair. 

The miner bears the mark of human woe. 

His iife is one of thard, incessant toil: 
And with th' inevitaible, what can he show? 

But solace for his labor, 'neath the soil. 
He may, wiMle aotive, stem misfortune's tide. 

If he be frugal, diligent and wise: 
But if. thro' age or trouble, laid aside. 

That viile. inhuman monster — want replies. 

Xo State-assisted pension can he claim. 
No Public Subsidy for age or health; 

A class neglected — everywhere the same — 

And yet we owe that class our power and wealth. 



2\ POEMS AND ESSAYS 

TJie wiieells of industry in every clime 
Revolve, to turn man's labor into Gold; 

His bone and slinew spent before tlheir time, 
His constiitutlion sihattered e'er it's old. 

Industrious man! Tiow can you look and lauglh? 

And treat indiff' rentlly comimercial irusih; 
To see your felilow-imortals swept like dhaff 

Before the wind of Gain, without a blush. 
I seek not here, tihe industrial course to dheck. 

Nor stay man's progress honestly pursued; 
But while I reason, tihis I can detect. 

Those wrong's we Suffer, rlightly understood. 

Tlie statesman prates this economic lore. 

Of Masters. Capital and such like Oant: 
But. when the Master counts ihis stock and store, 

Say — does he estimate the Human Plant? 
So oft' we know, he never counts the cost 

Of man's exertions, failing every breath; 
And yet, tIhe faithful worker keeps Ms post, 

Until relieved by Labor's best fi"iiend — ■Death, 

W'hen death o'ertakes his luckless steps — what 
then ? 

No pageant grand, conducts him to the tomb; 
Scarcely one knows without iMs family's ken, 

That ihe has passed into eternal gloom. 
Gone from this fatal stage of human faults, 

We praise him. one of our fraternity; 
And. tlhough >he erred, conduct it to those vaults. 

With ihim in endless dusk — Eternity. 

Feb. 1903. 



MEMORIATi DAY. 

The brave man Us not ihe wlho feels no fear 
But he wihose nohle mind that fear suibdues. 

— Bailey. 
The day Teturns with 'hallowed thougihts a nation 

mouTns her dead, 
And o'er the tomlbs of iheroes passed her sons and 

daughters spread 
Tlhat Ihonored flag, the Stars and Stripes, and 
valor's lau'Tel wreath. 



FOR THE WORKERS 2 5 

Still mindt'iil of those men who fought that Free- 
dom's cause mig'ht breathe. 

As if in life we sttill recall that patriot fire of old, 
^»'•hich then inspired her val'ian't sons whose names 

are now enrolled 
On fadr Columbia's "Scroll of Fame," who died to 

set her free, 
.aid ])aid that .ransom with their blood, wihioh pur- 

cihiased Diberty, 

All honor to our noble dead — illustrious ;in song, 
Who fear subdued, 'w'ho dared to die fo rlg^it a 

nation's wrongs; 
Still, with pajtriotic fervor we revere the spot where 

lies 
The mighty dead — tlie dust from which ten 

thousand heroes rise. 
Rose Farm, Ohio. May 27, 1905 



DESPONDENCY. 

r often think \\hen I am lonely, 
Dife's a hardsihip ill to bear, 
Yet I know I'm not the only 
One who'se life is fraught with care; 
Humankind ihave each their troubles, 
Hope exultant 'leads us on — 
Often, yea! to burst like "bu'bbles. 
Seldom worth depending on. 

Some wiho seeim with every pleasure. 
Often feigned, tho' always sought; 
But we may discount tihe measure 
Whiclh, (to judge, is dearly bought. 
Passing pleasure may relieve us 
Of our sorrows ifor a time. 
But it cannot long deceiive us. 
When it fades, the truth will s'hine. 

Opulence! we see him jolly. 
Phantoms beckon him to stay. 
Till 'he learns it's only fpUy, . 
When the mist iias Cleared away. 



2 6 POEMS AND ESSAYS 

He must face a true reaction, 
\\%ic/li, when 'happy, seems afar — 
Common sense and real attraction, 
Chastens all who idly err. 

Poverty is so abundant, 
To descrd*be in simple lines; 
And her woes are so redundant, 
Countless millions sihe entwines. 
O what suff'ring! O what sadness! 
Lives of dark despondency; 
Few your pleasures, short your gladness, 
Go-d's your main dependency. 
Rose Farm, Ohio, 1906. 



MAN AND INDEPENDENCE. 

("Great truths always dwell a 'long tiune with 
small minorities.") 

That man wiho independent i?! 

Had ibetter ne'er been born; 
A hard and ruffled life is hiis; 

Of all its sweetness shorn: 
Unsullied Ihonor marks his course, 

And Dutj^ bids him stay. 
But God commands with prudent force. 

And God he must obey. 

At early dawn his thoughts are bright. 

The past he tihus revolves; 
We've nothing gained 'but wlhiat is rigiht, 

How slowly man evolves. 
Unswerving, zealous, on he sipeeds 

Hi® ideals to proclaim; 
His llife-work here is mankind's needs. 

Or tyrants hold to sihame. 

No passion proud or empty fame, 

His course can thus retard; 
Thiat gilded mirage — ^boiastful name — 

All freemen disregard; 
But why sihould one so sacrifice 

The pleasures smail of life? 
While few there are who aggrandize, 

Yet, milll'ons in the strife. 



FOR THE WORKERS 27 

Unequal life, unequal tlioug'lit, 

Wihy should it thus obtain? 
The rich man's feast as dearly bought 

Witih poor men's bone and brain; 
Has no-t God equallly diffusied 

His gifts to man and beast? 
Then w^hy are millions iharshly used? 

And wihy so few the feast? 

That spairk of fire unquenchable 

Digihts on those noble few 
Who preach tihat cause invincible. 

And Labor's claims renew; 
Organic change in every sphere 

Has every idea] riven; 
But men and women — todlers here — 

Assert their rigihts from heaven. 

That man wiho holds our flag on high 

For tihose wrlio care to work; 
His brain direcits a watchful eye 

On those who always shirk; 
He feanlessly instructs the mass 

Against that idle cant 
Wihicih emanate froim those — ^tihe class — 

Wiho neither work nor want. 

Fight on, brave spirit, never tire, 

Old-fasQiioned themes must fade; 
Let Lalbor's cause your course inspire, 

J^et Progress don Brocade; 
Nor let a;mbition cheat the world 

Of one on Freedom's side; 
But keep the flag of toil unfurled 

And God sihali be your guide. 

Tntelligence denotes tne hour 

Which cause ailone must speed. 
And eke provide some migtbty power 

In man — who, born to lead, 
Those scattered millions o'er the earth 

Wiho toil while life remains; 
Who, trusting in their right of birth. 

Can only lose their chains. 

Rose Farm, Ohio, Oct. 1, 1907. 



2 8 POEMS AND ESSAYS 

TllUE HEAKTS THAT EVER BEAT. 

Since time began the 'human race has constantly 

Deen dhanging, 
And tribes migrate from place to p'lace and o'er fhe 

world are ranging; 
But with tihis change throughout the world, 

amongst mankind we'll meet 
The fervent few, with flags unfurled, and hearts 

that truly beat. 

For "love of country" men have fought, true honor 

marked their lives; 
In Freedom's cause their blood has bought that 

happiness it gives; 
Vv^'Mle knaves and cowards crouching sink into 

their dark retreat. 
But Justice! stands on Freedom's bnink, w*here 

true hearts ever beat. 

To grasp in full the 'higher plan, man's speculative 

mind 
Has varied oft' s;ince time began, and still today 

we find 
That time — worn narrow — seilfish trend, or jeal- 
ousy compQete, 
Wihicih prompts those men, to gain their end, whose 

perjured hearts aye beat. 

Could man but reason for himself that nobler, 

higher plan, 
And banlsih Lust or love of Pelf, and guide or teach 

who can — 
Let all discord (be overcome, as brothers let us 

meet 
In every iand, in every home where truthful ihearts 

sihall beat. 

In Labor's cause we find it thus — divisions great 

and small, 
Wihere men agree, dissent, discuss tihe best for each 

and all; 
Wihere men responsive to the caW who faithfully 

repeat — 
"The wrongs of one concern us all" Whose loyal 

hearts still beat — 



FOR THE WORKERS 29 

In e\^ery land, in every sphere, there's loyal ihearts 

still throb; 
From Kdngdoms, Comimonwealths I hear tihe wail 

of Labor's toad; 
From Pole to Pole let us evollve, and on mankind 

entreat; 
And Justice claim with one resolve and hearts that 

truly beat. 
Rose Farm, OMo, April 10, 1907. 

THE CENTENARY OF BURNS. 

A sacred day to all is drawing nig-h 

To Prince and Peasant, lowly born and high — 

A day on whieh all Scotsmen true wtill shew it. 

Their never-dying love for one — ^a ipoet. 

Brief (history narrates oif noble Kings; 

The statesman's voice is 'husihed on aerial wJings; 

A tablet marks our greatest warrior's urns; 

But posterity will 'hail the name of Burns: 

Of alil mankind a Scotsman's truly blest 

To own him as their Poet — Nature's best; 

And doubly blest the iland Whioh gave 'Mm birth. 

Whose name is stil revered all o'er the earth. 

No son of haug'hty indolence was he; 

No Dineal Prince nor Lord of high degree; 

Yet noble was his birth, tho' poor his lot; 

His palace was a country peasant's cot. 

A genius 'born, by nature's G-od inspired. 

Who oft' our paitriotic blood has fired; 

A tribute pay Mm, gather round Ms urn, 

Who splendor lent to Bruce and Bannockiburn. 

His works abound with tender songs ot Love, 

Of hope, of fear, or pleasure's fickle grove. 

Of pain, of wealth and power, or ihuimian wrongs; 

The would admlires his poems and his songs. 

One hundred years ihave slowly passed away 

Since Robbie bade adieu to lovely day, 

Around him — Death — so certain — waved his 

hand. 
And called ihim hence — the noblest of our land. 
Arise! Auld Scotia's sons, a homage pay 
Unto the Bard, now mould'ring in the clay; 
Let al!l wihose patriotic iblood yet wairms, 
Assemble round the grave of Robert Burns. 
Jiilv 21, 1906. 



POEMS AND ESSAYS 

A SnUG O' HEILAN' HEATHER. 
Frae Dear Old Scotia's Hills. 

Dear fnien', I got yer heather sprig. 
An' often since I've Messed the twig, 
Wihioh binds Auld Scotia's sons tae her, 

Prae far an' near; 
Its purple builliance nane can slur, 

Oir fail tae cheer. 

Lang syne when Rome's advancing arms, 
A fancy took tae Sco'tia"s charms; 
Bold Oaesar scanned oor heaither hills. 

In conqu'ring mood; 
But 'yont the Forth he kent the ills 

An' there he stood. 

Wihen Haco's legions first cam' forth, 
Tae cowe -the Scots, frae South tae North; 
Her sons wha lo'ed the heather dear, 

Withstood tihe charge; 
A "rock of strength" with SAVord an' spear, 

At bloody Largs. 

Wihen Ciressingthiam received command 
Frae Edward First, tae rue oor land, 
Brave "Wallace Wight" for love o' hame 

An' iheather sprig; 
Inspired her Sons wi' patriot flame, 

At Stirling Brig. 

Again when England tried 'her ihan' 
Tae rule the heather, richt or wrang; 
The migihty Bruce sprang tae the front. 

The tide tae turn; 
He forced CarnaTvon's men tae shunt 

Frae Bannockburn. 

At famed Quebec, an' Waterloo, 

At Alma heigihts, oor sons were true; 

An' weel we ken they focht tae win, 

Or dee thegither; 
Inspired by "love o' haime" each ane. 

The land o' heather. 



P^OR THE WORKERS 31 

O: dearest bloom of endless worth, 
Oor sons Ijiae praised yer iJarent earth; 
An' a' agree in verse and prose, 

Yer lasting fame; 
A sprig o' thee tae frien's or foes 

Exalts thy name. 

But here my frien', I must conclude, 
My muse 'it ends — my 'hamely mood — 
An' tho' I praise yer gift sae' trig. 

In strings o' rhyme; 
I'll ever prize yer "heather sprig" 

For Auld Lang Syne. 
March 12, 1904. 



UNIVERSAL PEACE. 

A cry for universal peace resounds throughout the 

the world, 
And ifhinking mm must nov.- respond — ^love's ban- 
ner is unfurled; 
Irdorsed by kings and statesmen great, inspired by 
God on higlh; 

And ihigh and low 
Shall learn to know 
The uniiversal cry. 

The "doQir of Janus" stands ajar, no truce nor par- 
ley comes. 
Continuous is the clash of arms and thundering of 

guns: 
And jealous staites, for 'honor's sake, keep soldiers 
on the traimp: 

'T is meet to say. 

That now today. 

The world's an armed camp. 

Great nations thirst for lands abroad — to win, to 

co>lonize — 
And base their claims on some pretext, protests can 

ne'er suffice 
To stay the hands of conq'ring hosts, the weak 



"2 :^OEMS AND ESSAYS 

againPt tihe strong*; 
Aad trade recedes, 
"WiMle mankind Weeds, 
And sitill the world looks on. 

When shall it end, thds savagery — ^tiMs universal 

curse? 
As nations build up armaments, they filch that na- 
tion's' purse; 
And piile up debt for those at home, to colonize 
abroad; 

In searcih of gain, 

And glory vain, 

And figihting thank their God. 

When sball the "Law of Nations" be alike to great 

and smalll? 
When shall this thirst for human blood be 

quencihed to end it all? 
If diplomats and figure*heads be all that they pre- 
tend — 

Supplant the pen, 
For guns and men, 
And war will surely end. 

Long, long ago, in Beth'lehem, the Prince of Peace 

was born. 
Who taught a filial bro'therhood, and war he held 

in scorn; 
His miaxims and fixed principles (when preaohed 
without afliloy) 
Applied today. 
Might clear the way, 
For universal joy. 

True ,honor lies in kindly deeds, to cultivate the 

mind ; 
Of ignorance or prejudice, so rampant 'mongst 

mankind; 
Let men agree and nations all resolve that war 
shall cease; 

And Jove of old 
Sihall then behold 
A universal peace. 
Dec. 13, 1904. 



FOn THE WORKERS 

A PTIEDICTED E^^CTTON. 

An eviction is on fuit jist noo, 
An' fet'h'the tenants arna few, 

There's hailf a tihooisan — -«fic a crew 
— Or there aboot; 

An' a' tihe nation's in a stew 
Tae get them ootr 

This is the Hoose o' Lords I mean, 
For centuries they've ruled supreme, 

An' landed thieves — an' rogues they've Ibeen 
Klcht up to date; 

Bat noo the folk ther deeds hiv seen 
An' them tihey ihate. 

But hoo tae get them a' unplaced, 

Those lineal cut-throats — so debased — 

Unless tihe peopile's ire be raised 
Them t?e unseat: 

An' prove for ance oor minds have blazed 
Tae fi'ghtiiiTg iheat. 

When Billy I, cam/ o'wer the main 
Tae teacih oot Harold hoo tae. reign, 

His sogers great wha werna slain 
On Hastins' field 

Took up tihe conquered Saxon's claim 
An' pawned 'Ms shield. 

An' still today they treat wi' scorn 

Those cowed and servile — Britiisih born — 

Wiha yet dispute that they've been s^horn 
O' birthriglht deiar; 

But mirk precedes the sun at )miorn 
An' day is near. 

That day when glorious education 
Will free a dull, (lethargic nation 

Frae privileged, tH-tled exaltation 
O' men o' birth; 

An' stir her sons wi' emulation 
Towards brains an' worth. 



3 4 POEMS AND ESSAYS 

Wi' candor noo, can it be said 

That God's coimmands ihiae been o'beyed? 

Wihy was 'this titled differs made 
'Twixt man and man? 

Tae ihonest men a spade's a spade, 
Wiha changed the plan? 

If God Ihiad meant it so to be, 

That luck o' birth stooiild rule the tree, 
Wfli}^ does He say like brithers 'gree 

Be firm an' fast; 
Poir strictly on the square is He — 

Frae first tae last. 

But noo tae further pres ma news 
For rhyming sae is jist a roose, 

rill name some tenants o' this hoose 
O' titled dandiesi; 

I'll "back a g'ill" they'll craw as cron?e 
As Spanish grandees. 

There's ane they ca' the Duke o' Argyle, 

His equal disna tread tlhe Isle 
In tyranny or ony Vile, uncanny act. 

But wiherst! auld Nick, in stately style. 

Is on his track. 

There's Lansdowne brave, an' Judge HalSibury 
An' Ashlbourne, Cross and Londonde»!Ty 

Wha make the pulir folk's life a worry 
An' llaiws condemn 

Then Godly, York or Canterbury 
Pronounce — Aimen . 

We've princes o' tibe royal bluiid, 
Wi' dukes an' eao-ls an' viscounte hid 

'Neath coronets — that gaudy lid — 
Tae ih'ide their sense; 

But Demos says, we musit get rid 
O' sic expense. 

There's twa three mair that I could name 

W)ha a' aspire tae ihaud the reiin, 
An' weel I ken it's in their game 



FOR THE WORKERS 35 

Tae damn reform; 
They ooht tae filing theiiT helds wi' sliame, 
— Gret tlhence! for scorn — 

If men o' sense wid jist review 

This subject as I've traced it through, 

Ji&t ask yersels, an' answer noo. 
Should title rule? 

Is Freedom deid? or why do you 
Remain a fool? 

Can lit be said that men o' birth 

(Win a claim a' things that's i' the ea/rth 

An' a' the feathered triibe that's worth 
The ihunter's shot) 

Should clalim tae rule the people's hoartli 
W'i' priiv'leged vote. 

There is a day ayont man's ken, 

A' eartMy po'er'll ihae it's en' 
When ity rants a' in sihape o' men 

Wha live in mirth 
'11 hae tae state hoo they did spen' 

Their time on earth. 

Their plea'll be, we traveled wlide, 

Consplired in schemes as mirk as Clyde, 

But deeds o' thiev'n widna hide. 
The diie was cast; 

O God! excuse oor earthly ride — 
Forget ithe past! 

But na', this Great Almiohty po'er 
Yer evil deeds He'll na lo'ok o'er. 

Ye may be buried 'neath a bower 
Tae save the smell; 

But when life's oot, afore an 'oor 
Ye'll be in H — ^11. 

My last upon this Hoose o' Gods 

I wid suggest for a' sic sods, 
Make men wii' titles carry hods, 

( Or mend their ways ; ) 
Distilibute them 'mong parish broads 

Tae end their days. 
Rose Farm, June 11, 1906. 



:;<> POEMS AND ESSAYS 

BURNS' .INNIVEKSARY. 

Come listen! a" ye bletlierin' Scotch, 

An' eke ye stop yer havers; 
Yer gossip taps the highest notch, 

A brash o' clish-ma-clavcrs; 
I here invite ye, ane an' a' — 

Vt'ha idle gossip spurns, 
Tae come an' spen' an' hour or tvra 

An' honor Rabble Burns. 

Vv'hen George the Second reigned as King 

In Seventeen Fifty Nine, 
A Scattish chiel was born tae sing 

O' Nature's charms &ae fine; 
His hame wis on the Banks o' Doon, 

This sturdy Lad o' Kyle, 
Wha shaped historic words tae tune 

In Scotia's martial style. 

Auld Ncture claims his choicest muse 

Wi' feelin's grand an' guid, 
The birds an' flowers he could infuse 

Wi' 'Charms that poets hid — 
The ^hoTse or coo, the sheep an' dog 

A place in verse can claim; 
The limpin' hare, or moosey snug 

Evicted frae its hame. 

Whaur is the Scot that hisna heard 

His tender songs o' Love? 
Ten thoosan' passions he has stirred. 

An' a' in verse he wove — 
That secret flame he trilled sae sweet, 

In songs sae warm an' true 
E'en Venus fair, knelt at his feet 

Enriched 'wi' speerits new. 

Reforms he wrocht, he quickened lear, 

An' made the tho-chtfu' think — 
He pictured weel the Rich an' Puir, 

An' pleasures false o' Drink; 
The Slave and Coward aft he scored. 

An' Traitors held tae shame; 
But priceless held high honor's word 

An' gave tae Courage fame. 



FOR THE WORKERS 



37 



But Time gangs on' an' Burns is gane, 

Oar best — oor country's pride; 
His works sae truthfu 'still remain 

Still lisped ower — ^world wide — 
This nicht "The Twenty E^ifth" returns, 

An' High an' Low shall dine; 
Tae honor Scotland's poet — ^Burns 

For Auld Lang Syne. 

January 25, 1907. 




::S POEMS AND ESSAYS 



L \150U POLITICS. 

Or thv Iiunii'diato Possibilities of the Trades Unioji 
Movement. 

Fellow-workmen: For a good number of years 
environment has placed me in a position of van- 
tage, to study in an elementary way the causes and 
eiTeets of our present industriial system; and {have 
leairned, througli experience, tihe disadvantages ex- 
perienced by working men, when trying to gain 
those necessary refoirms whicb call for immediate 
attention. Questions, which are of the utmost im- 
port to the health and welfare of our great army 
of wage-workers who aire the ibackbone of this or 
any other country. Modern progress in our present 
industriial system 'has swept away all of the old- 
fasihdoned bargaiining between emplloyer and em- 
ployee, and instead of meeting our employers in 
small groups or isolated units, as in the past; we 
have to face colossal aggregations cKf wealth in our 
st'uggle for existence, by combining the forces of 
labor, to better enable us in t'hat struggle witih our 
employers for better wages and conditions of em- 
ployment. 

Thus far we have succeeded, but are wages the 
Alpiha and Omega of a Tradesunion? 'Ceirteinly 
not! There are other channels for the advocates 
of TjRbor; viz, to see that the workers get a 
"Square Deal" in our Nationall, State and Munic- 
ipal bodies; therefore, the subject matter of this 
essay is quite in keeping with a people, progres- 
sively in earnesit. 

To write an esay on the above subject, and to 
encompass within a limiited space the ever-increas- 
ing possibilities of working men in this direction, 
vvould be a hard task, indeed; hut with the data at 
my command, and with the patience and forbear- 
ance of my readers I shall try and enligihten all of 
the different elements cf our craft in this hrief es- 
say. 

Labor politics, as the name implies, is a sulbject 



FOR THE WORKERS 3f> 

w'M'ch has engrossed 'the attention of progtressive 
master-minds tihe world over, and while it is ser- 
iously misunderstood (or to be pQaiin) ihas never 
been taught in free-born America, the day is not 
far distant w*hen the imtoist fervent of the trades 
union leaders will have to turn to tMngs practical 
and elevating, and face those problems, wihioh to 
the woirkers mean so much, in a true spirit ot 
American citizensihip, 

Maggini says: 

*'Ke who would be free himself must strike the 
blow." 

As a. preface to my essay, permit me to ask of 
you a few pilalin but trenchant questions. 

1. How many working men have a national 
"say so" in the legislative business of this coun- 
try? 

2. How many working men sound the trumpet 
of labor in the state legislatures from an independ- 
ent viewpoint; and iif there are any how far does 
their views trend towards the general advancement 
of our cause; or, on the other ihand, ,how much hold 
has the workers of ithis country on those isolated 
members? 

3 Is our modus operandi compatible w<itli pres- 
ent day trades union effo.rt; and if not, what results 
can we expect when we take into serious consid- 
eration twentieth century industria'lism? 

4. Can it .'be argued for organized labor that 
our efforts are meeting with effect the unscrupulous 
tactics of organized capital? Or can we ihonestly 
declare that the interests of the laboring Class can 
best he served by that class of representatives 
known as employers of laboir, in the state or na- 
tional legislatures? Having regaird to the fore- 
going quesitions, I shall attempt, to the best of my 
ability, to answer all of them in ordinal! form, and 
if I fall sihort of my present set purpose, that fault 
is mine and not the fault oif this great twentieth 
century ideall, in the leading countries of the world. 

First question: I need hardly 'have asked this 
question, "if any working men had a say so in the 
national' legislature." They have not! This is a 
glaring truth which we are ail cognizant with long 
ago. But to sihow that our faults are none the T^ss 
and to show the absolute necessity for a working- 



4 POEMS AND ESSAYS 

man's party — ^irrespective of political creed or col- 
or — my object shall ilmve been attained. 

To any one who has slightly studied the science 
of politics from a modern view point, the govern- 
ment of la miodern state (as Uhe term modern im- 
l)lies) is government of the people, by the people, 
for the people, but wihen we impartialily dip down 
into the ■ question, as lit stands in every country 
(monarohiial or otherwise) is it really so? 

Switzerlland, I admit, ihas set examples for the 
world to learn; but take this, the greatest of all 
modern republics, how does it stand? Simply thus 
— government of the poor, by the ridh, for the 
ricih. 

The American national anthem is a genuine piece 
of patriotic genius, and dlearly demonstrates the 
why and wherefore wihioh actuated the spirit of 
its wniter; but really and truly the present condi- 
tions of American life (political, sodial and indus- 
trial) are not in sympathy with thnt great poem; 
therefore, sometihing evolutionary of a progressive 
nature is imiriied lately necessary. 

The last line of the poem runs thi:s: "The land 
of the free and the home of the brave," but to suit 
present conditions sihould read like this: 

"Here the rich and the knave doth the poor man 
enslave." 

It will be airgued by some that the people are 
indirectly represented in Congress in tlie interests 
of all classes of society; but if tlhis be the case, 
how mudb legiislative business has been done in 
that chamber, within recent years, in the interest 
of labor? 

If tihe spirit of Congress were actuated by that 
l^assage of Scripture wihioh says "By their works 
we sihail know them," all round legislation would 
be safe in their hands; but we have found by bitter 
experience that a few iiundred of the peoples' rep- 
resentatives assemble together to enact class legis- 
lation on personal mandate; and the people of this 
country (have become so lethargic that they care 
not nor will they seek a remedy. 

Within that saored chamber (the House of Con- 
gress) the voice of labor has never yet been heard: 
and it is to the everlasting discredit of every work- 
er in this country tlhiat sudh is the case. 



FOR THE WORKERS 41 

Some, again, will contend that the American 
Federation of Labor looks after the leg^islative (bus- 
iness of tihe trades unionists of this country; but 
with all due deference to the leaders of tlhat great 
organization. t;he legis/latiive funotions of tihat body 
are more expensive than useful. 

Instead of this unnecessary expense of lo'bbyfing 
the wrongs of labor, the workers sihould take tiiie 
matter in hand, and by their votes on election day 
send their own congressimen plum inside the House 
to air the seuitiments and ameliorate the conddtions 
of all classes of la'bor. 

The Ameili'can Federation of Labor 'has been in 
existence for over two decades, and while lit serves 
a good and useful purpose, by uniting the wage- 
earning class on a common line of action, its ef- 
fecitiveness as a flegislative factor is unstable and 
incomplete. It has knocked at nhe door of Con- 
gress for a considerable length of time. but. like 
the proverbial "unwelcome caller," Is still knock- 
ing. The good book tells us to "Knock and it sihali 
be opened unto us," ,but ihere is an exception to 
this world-wiide maxim. The only knock that wiiJl 
ever have true effect here is for the working men 
ol this country to make up their minds to send di- 
rect laibor representatives to Congress. Then, and 
then only, will t'letir mandate be respected. 

Then agaiin, fthere is the United States Senate — 
the house df many lords' — ^representing the class 
privilege and monopoly. This House, under the 
l)resent system, no working 'man need ever hope 
to enter; even "angels would fear to tread" within 
its sacred Gorrldors. 

This branclh of the legislature :holds an executive 
veto over all mlinor bodies — even the peoples' cihos- 
en champion (the President) has to pause before 
its miglhty influence. If its doings were inspective 
?n-d its members eilective, as a peoples' corrective, 
all would be well; but in its present form — is use- 
less, dangerous, and ought to be abolished — no 
evaporating pnlliative nor fantastic nostrum can 
ever be offered as the grand <iase-ending panacea 
for sucih an evil in our midst; a nation has a lesser 
claim for two minds rhan a man has for two skins. 
Make thpni elective by popular vote, or "out and 
cloa.r the way." 



{2 POEMS AND ESSAYS 

Second Question: My second question can be 
fcasilly answered as to how many sound the trumpet 
for labor in the Stare's leglsilatures. 

To beg'in witJh, I must admlit that there are a 
fevv- iso'Iated units in the different State legislatures 
but as to their effectiveness, or how immch 'hold tihe 
workers ^haye on sudh memibers, there 5» no ques- 
t i on . 

Ttliese men enter the as'semblies of the different 
states on independent lines; and vvhile I pay all 
due respect to the few so ihonored, I must confesvs 
their voice 'is like the one "crying in the wilder- 
ness" — of very little avaii'l. Alll the comibined force 
of ilhe empilorving class is brougiht to bear against 
puoh members, and the interests of the corpora- 
tions, such as interurban, traction, railroad, mines 
and mining, gas and oil, are best served and safe- 
guarded against progressiive legislation and equit- 
able taxation. 

Those independent legislators a^-e good enough 
in their way, and I 'have no donbr are sincere 
enough; but there is no staibility nor effectiveness 
in this isolated workingnian legislator, in a House 
of mixed interests, and any slighl diminution of 
support at ellection time (wihile his oppoiient has 
doles to give to get there) 'Ms time has passed off 
as a peoples' man, and the elector, wise after the 
event, 'has no other alternative but take his imedi- 
cine — ihumi'liatlion and ring rule. 

My answer to tihis question is, that our modus 
operandi is not compatible with progressive trades 
union effort; nor can we look for any social, eco- 
nomic nor industrial reforms, unless we rearrange 
our mode of procedure to co'mbat twentietfti century 
industr'ialism. A retrospective glance at the his- 
itory of the labor movement will positively satisfy 
every worker on this point; and if we clear our 
miinds of party prejudice, or 'hereditary political 
bias, the conditions today are not to be compared 
with tihe conditions whSdh otbtained 50. 30 or even 
20 years ago. 

Take the latter of these dates. Then we had to 
organize in small districts, to combat (isolated em- 
pJoyers of lalbor, to claim a fair sihare of the profits 
of hard work. But conditions today are completely 
changed; and instead of that kind of guerrilla war- 



FOR THE V/ORKERS 4 3 

lare we have had recourse to the ^broader idea of 
coimiblning t'he forces of organized labor to better 
enable us, for tJhe never-ending contest with organ- 
ized capital for wages and conditions of employ- 
ir.ent, slaorter Ihours and recognition of our union. 
But, ^afcer all, is this to be all, and the end of 
our existence? Have we arrived at tihat point of 
j>erfection wihere our efforts should cease? Cer- 
tainlj' not! We muSit evolve and by evolving we 
are progressing; to enaible us to lead happier, nob- 
ler and more useful lives. 

Twentieuh centucy civilization demands imore of 
us tihan that v/hiich was demanded from our parents 
or grandparents 50 or 100 years ago. We are now 
past thiat "finger post" in history wthen the worker 
"lived to eat" to enable him to toil. Today we 
"eat to live," to love, and harmonize, and enable 
our less foTtunate co-workers to enjoy the full 
fruits of those God-sent blessings so bountiful and 
bright, but stifled and limited by class privileges 
and party legislation. 

In this country today the science of government 
has become a misnomer, and not till the working 
men take an inteiEigent interest in the affairs of 
state w^ill it ever 'be any better. 

Present day indus'trialis.m is moving at suoh a 
rapid rate t'hat the positlion of the day wage-earner 
hasi beoome alarming. Any one wlitih average in- 
telligence must admit that the sovei'eagn voice of 
t'he people ihas not been, nor is not respected, and 
the political machines (for as such they appear to 
me) have become so corrupt, and serve no good 
purpose, that the honest voter must stand aloof 
if he wants to remain immune from the stain of re- 
action and political lintrigue. 

FourtJi Question. My fourth and last question 
brings me to the crucial poiint of this essay, and 
one whicih, to say the ileast. Is of ionmediate im- 
port to the American people. My answer there is 
eimpihatdcalily — No! Our best efforts presently are 
not meeting with effect the unscrupulous tactics of 
organized capital. Nor can the best interests of 
the Ipjboring classes be served in the State or na- 
tional legislatures, by employers of labor. 

A few existing anomolies will suffice to prSS'^e 
that class legisilation is the rule in this country. 



4 4 POEMS AND ESSAYS 

We -have law by injunction, pi iviilleges of trusts 
and co-mbine-:, railroad preferences, loose banking 
laws, defective mining laws, alien immigration 
uncontrolled, and a whole 'host of other albuses 
x^ihich caul foir immediate remedy. 

Agaiin there is the postvil sys.l:em. Instead of it 
being a drag on the government exchequer, it 
ou'giht to (be a paying concern, and if every servant 
had to qualify in this branch of the government 
service (instead of iby appointment) this could be 
broughit about — with better results. Further, 

there is muniicipal owneirsihip of puhlic utilities, or 
rnuniaipal goverDment on modern iines with pow- 
ers from the State, or, if you wiill, government own- 
ership on a broad national basis. In fact there is 
no end to the possitb'ilities otf a popular governmenr, 
all of wihioh can be materially emhanced by work- 
ing men taking a practical interest in their own 
and tfee nation's welfare. 

What is wanted in this country is a national 
labor party, to sehd direct liaibbr members to the 
national congress, and the (legislatures of tihe dif- 
ferent states, to voice the opinions of the wage- 
earning dl ass. 

Under the present system the different assem- 
l)lies, state and national, are packed wtith men rep- 
resenting the money interests, and are obligated to 
no one; but if laJbor had its own representatives 
pledged (to the principle of labor reform, no one 
can gaiinsay the fact but what the interests, the 
health and the safety of the workers would be 
strictly safeguarded. 

A^s i have already stated, ail this can be brought 
about independent of a man's political convictions, 
creed or color. Only one needs to stretcih bis geo- 
graplhical imagination to other countriies and learn 
for himself. A glance at the great adbievements 
of the workers of Great Britain, France, Gerimany 
Switzerland, etc., and there you will find that the 
voice of working men is a force to be reckoned 
with: and no iminiistry is safe without paying due 
tribute to labor. Take Great Britain--^e recent 
elections and theiir results for laibor's cause is 
something astounding, and nothing short of a po- 
litical revolution. 

Somevrbere between 50 and 60 labor members 



FOR THE WORKERS 45 

have been returned to that leg'islatiire, a fact wihlich 
far ouiLstretcihed the hopes of the most optimiistic. 
It is argued by some that most of the great trades 
unions have 'b<5en burst asunder on the political 
"rock of destruction;" but lif any organization for 
progiess 'is buiilt on a solid foundation, its powers 
and porJibili'tiies are progreissively limitless. 

DAVID B. ROBB. 
Rose Farm, Ohio. 



LABOR POLITICS. 

Editor Mine Workers' Journal: 

I have noticed with interest the different ariticles 
on labor politdcs, since my letter on this suibject 
appeared a few months ago in the Journal, and 
whiile I (have no fault to find with tihe different 
writers on the general proposition, tihere is less of 
a rush towards this new issue than the case neces- 
sitates. 

It is all very true that the feeling for such a 
course towaa-ds labor reform is yet in its Initial 
stage and that the road to success is strewn with 
difiicultie^; bu't there is not, nor 'bas there ever 
been, any movemient started which did not carry 
with it a higih percentage of 'honest fervor and fix- 
ity of purpose attached to those men wfho have been 
(and are today) imbued wit that courageousness 
which eventually must win, while others miss tihe 
grand aim in their eagerness for prominence as a 
matter of course. 

Since my last letter appeared in the coluimns of 
our paper a great change has taken place among 
Tihe labor leaders of this country towards political 
activity, and why? Simply because those leaders 
have met with another legislative reverse, inflicted 
by Speaker Cannon and others, and to use our 
own phrase, Mr, Gompers and his lieutenante are 
going to ap'peail to the consciences of the workers 
of America to make up for los-t ground or pasft 
inactivity. 

My first question is: Why not hoist tihe flag of 
labor and form what /m-ight be unquestionably call- 



-i'^ POEAiS AND ESSAYS 

ed a naiiioiial labon' party? And tliuswise inake an 
inkiative but sincere attempt to amalgamate the 
rorces cf lalooir foa- practical legislative purposes. 
This •'parcih-up" policy of t^he A. F. of L. is only a 
deterrent to those of us in earnest and s'pells Aveak- 
ness or linEincen.y at the outset. 

Anyone, even with an elementary knowledge of 
the rottenness whiich prevails in o'ur political, ju- 
dicial, sociial, economic and industrial systems, 
must know tihat sucih palliative nostrums are only 
weigihed 'in tihe scales of common sense for what 
T'hey are v/orth; therefore our duty (as ibona fide 
members of free organizations) is to form a work- 
ers' party, free from political bias, to co-operate 
with or act independent of either of tihe exisiting 
orthodox parties. It is all very well to talk about 
certain politicians being friendly to labor, and may 
suffice so far and so long, accordinig to how the 
units of ilabor imay poliitically discern; but to one 
who ihas taken an interest for years in poilitircal 
action throug*h a trades union medium, myi argu- 
jnent is that the woirkers' best friend is himself, 
and not till ihe takes an intelligent interest in him- 
sieif ari'd the future of his offspring will Ms own 
condition be much better. 

The firsit great part to be played in the "drama 
of progress," politicaWy, is education. Train the 
minds of our half servile brothers up to that point 
where servility ends and progress begins, and pre- 
pa.re them intellectually to utilize their suffrage 
zs men and citizens. 

No structure, so to speak, in the material sense, 
can ever ibe built upon a snow bill, and less so can 
anything be escalblisihed, intellectuailly, wihich is 
obscure and incomplete. 

Tinkening at labor and social reform has served 
its day, and the sooner the workingmen of America 
realize thiis the better it will be for those of us 
v.iho toiid today and the millions wiho are expected 
to take cur places in years to co^me. Just to phil- 
osophize a little: There are only two courses open 
to us as workingmen — either go on as we are doing 
with the dangers of degeneracy to combat, or co- 
operate as trades unionists by poliitica)! activity, 
with tihe glorious privileges aihead of social, polit- 
ical and industrial emancipation. Fool he woulti 



FOR THE WORKERS 

be W'lio could even venture to thinlv tliat tihe pres- 
ent system can last and that t'he people (tJhe work- 
ing people I mean) will always be satisfied with 
their lot. Just as sure as that great orb in the 
heavens Idghts up tihe eastern seaboard at dawn, 
jusit so suire will the orb of intelliigence burst fortn 
and enliglhten the inteHeicts of workingmen and 
pronounce the "dawn of freedom" from California 
to Maine and from Wasihington to Florida. Of all 
the countries whose legislators directly represent 
labor I beMeve those of Great Britain ilead the van. 
At the last election between fifty and sixty niem- 
'bers were returned in the interests of the workers, 
eaoh of wihom had to rise by siheer dint of hard 
work and earnestness and are therefore in a po- 
sition to know exactly the wants and wishes of the 
man of toil. Furtheimore, it must 'be borne in 
mind that Great Britain has not yet attempted to 
pay its natJional representatives, which goes to 
prove that such a course in Aimiei"<ica wou/ld be much 
easier than in Great Britain. 

The Britiisih workingman not only pays election 
expenses out of this union funds, but also main- 
tains those workingmen parliamentarians all the 
year round with a salary of £3 50 ($1,750) and all 
reasonable expenses. How much eas<ier it wouild 
be for such a course in this country' to form a na- 
tional labor party, thereby being enabled to pro- 
mote the interests and welfare of every wage work- 
er witlhin tihe confines of tbis much talked of free 
country and its dependencies? 

In America the national exchequer takes over 
the finanolal responsibiility of paying its legislatoirs, 
but the British workman takes it out of his earn- 
ings; itherefore, surely with this big advantage the 
course to social and labor reform is considerably 
enhanced. Wihat lis wanted is ihonest, earnep*t 
and progressive co-^operation among the trades 
union officials in this country, and no matter wihat 
their personal politicail opinions may ibe. such opin- 
ions must not in the slightest be a drawback to 
that which aims at the greatest good for the great- 
est number. 

Mv last suggestion under this head would be for 
the International Miners' Union, and all other un- 
ions, to take a ballot vote of its members on the 



4 8 POEMS AND ESSAYS 

question of paying a smalil sum per capita per year 
to meer the election expenses and propaganda work 
of returning bona fide labor meanbers to the states 
and national legiislatures. it is perfectly true that 
the American Federation of Labor has lissued clr- 
cuilairs soliciitinig financial assistance for the pur- 
poses I (have quoted, but if the meimbers of the 
different unions were to get a. short course of in- 
struction, through their officials, on this great sub- 
ject of labor reform and itihis progressive step of 
the American Federation of Labor, I am convinced 
that a ballot vote would unquestionafbly end satis- 
factorily to all parties. Unless we can carrj^ ©very 
brother along with us, or, at least, the majority 
thereof, we run the risk of disintegrating a har- 
monious whole; and according to the make-up of 
our organizations (politically) would have a ten- 
dency to set back the ihands of the clock o-f pro- 
gress for years to come. 

In concilusion, I am satisfied to t^ink that so far 
la;bor was successful at the last election. With 
men like Wilson and Nicholils in the national con- 
gress we can rest assured in them we (have two 
champions worthj^v and well qualified in labor's 
cause, and I hope that the workers \\"ill not forsake 
a cause so irig'h'teous at every opportunity. 

Fraternallv yours, 

b. B. ROBB. 
Rose Farm, Ohio, Jan. 21, 190 7. 



CX>-OPERATIVE BANKING. 

Editor Mine Workers' Journal: 

I observed in the coilumns of The Journal a state- 
ment of facts pertadning to the failure of that hank 
in Spning Valley, 111. I helieve I express the feel- 
ing of your readers when I say that we all deplore 
the heavy loss sustained hy our national President, 
John Mitchell, and the vest of the working men 
wiho were diepoeiitore in that institution. The very 
fact of these men becoming victimsi of one among 
the many bankiing catastrop-hes in this country is. 



FOR THE WORKERS 49 

to say the least, enough to make thinking men 
think and arouse the Indlifferent to a sense of rheir 
duty. 

W'hen a man becomes a member of an organiza- 
tion (trades union or benevolent) the mere fact 
of his becoming a memher does not end there; his 
initiation as a financial unlit of a great whole cai- 
ries with it (his proportionate sihare of the respons- 
ibidity; therefore, as a unit of the United iMine 
Workers of America, the scope and magnitude of 
whicth has a continental influence in mining and 
other industries, I beg leave to submit my opinion 
as to ihow those bank failures might serve as an 
education for those of us who have been giifted with 
a silight favor of intelligence, who care to learn. 
and how far tihat intelligence might he utilized in 
the education oif those less fortunate. 

Now, in tihe first place. I do not claim to be in 
any way conversant with the banking laws of this 
country: nor is it my purpose to try and educate 
the miners on any technical question wlhich re- 
quires years of study to become proficient: but it 
is my duty as a miner, and an active member of 
our organization, to take more than a passive in- 
terest in this financial disaster to our fellow-orafts- 
•nien. 

If my authority — the daiily press — can be reiied 
u])on — and I have no general reasons for doubt — 
there is ihardly a week in the year, and sometimes 
hardly a day in the week, but some bank some- 
where closes its doors. Bank failures, financial 
frauds, muniaipal graft, corporation swindles, etc.. 
etc., are the rule insitead of being an exceptional 
ooourrence. Why s'hould it be thus? There is a 
screw loose somewhere in the nation's financial 
auxiliaries. I do not infer that there is any spec- 
ial defect (if I except the Legislaiure) : the defect 
is general. 

Dank failures within recent years have become 
a chronic nuisance in this country, and consequent- 
ly a public danger. 

Is there no immediate reremdy that could be ap- 
plied to purge the nation of those stock-jobbing 
freebooters? Couild the whip of Congress (the peo- 
ple's ihouse) not be applied with lightning effect 
as a means of correction toward an honest end? 



50 POEMS AND ESSAYS 

If this state of affairs be allowed to continue What 
mora,! or material effect can it have on tihis, the 
greateisit of all modern rep uib lies? Are the people 
of free America so lethargic as to allow it to con- 
tinue without raising its sovereign voice in protest? 
Surely not. In my opinion the day is not far dis- 
tant (and that day sooner than those least affected 
are aware of) when tihe peopile of this country will 
rise as a unit, ibut with greater force than the pro- 
verbiail tidal wave, and cleanse this falir land of 
enthroned rascality. 

Having regard to the question as it stands, and 
in the absence of any iimimediate legisilative inter- 
ference, is there no other remedy that could be 
applied to safeguard the surplus funds of frugal 
wage-eairners, of states, municipalities, trades or 
benevolent organizations? There is, and the time 
is more than opportune for some suc'h remedy, by 
either one of the above named bodies, and the 
United Mine Workers of America appeal to me, 
first, most, and ail the time. 

We are all agreeatoile to and self-conscious of the 
fact tihat the present officials of the miners' organ- 
ization are supremely capabile of wresiing (from the 
captains of the mining industry a fair and equit- 
able share of the profits accruing therefrom. That 
granted, is it not as reasonafole to thinly; that these 
same officials aire just as capable of inaugurating 
a banking systetm of our own whereby the funds 
of our organization and the economic surplus of 
our members would be entirely safe. If banking 
be a profitable business for a surplus capital surely 
rihe real owners oif such capitafl, or their tried and 
trusted officials at least, are just as capable and 
trustworthy as can be found elsewhere. States and 
munidpaliities the world over (have each their quota 
— ^more or less — of working men's intelligence in 
the counsels af sucih. Then, again, tlhere is the 
great co-operative movement — 'the greatest eco- 
nomic force of the age — it, in itself, is enoug'h to 
convince the average man what can be attained by 
an active people. 

Co-operation is the outcome of working men's 
intelligence, and today (ev^n by those opposed to 
the doctrine of organized labor) it is pronounced 
an unqualified success. Then why not a trades 



FOR THE WORKERS 51 

banking system? Banking, in my opinion, is no 
more complex a subject than the responsibility of 
victualing, at a profit, a whole nation of wage-earn- 
ers. Banking; by a trades union, wouid be only a 
new 'brancih of progressive thought fo<r working 
mien's sons, and the sires of today, by giving it our 
hearty support, our sons wiW be able to make it 
more perfect for future generations to come. 

In conolusion I shall ask tihe readers of our pa- 
l.^er what fix would we find ourselves in if tO'morrow 
we were face to face with some great industrial 
difficulty and applied at the hank for O'ur money 
(our war material), only to find that t<hat same 
day oir the day previous this bank had become in- 
solvent throug'h wiild sipeculation by the directorate 
or individual dishonesty. The effect would be 
most liiumiiliating and tihe consequences disastrous 
in the extreme. We would then attempt to stem 
the tide at scihedu^le time, oir like many who have 
fallen in tihe old rut, become wise after the event. 

Hoping I ihave not transgressed on my license a^ 
an organized miner, I remain. Yours fraternally, 

DAVID B. ROBB. 

Ro.e Farm, Obio, July 31. 1905. 



(X)-OPERATION. 

FeIlow-v>^orkers, in attempting to write an arti- 
cle on the co-operative movement, I feel within 
myself that it is only an attempt by one wholly un- 
fitteJd for such a huge undertaking, but if zeal for 
the cause of progress be taken as my credentials, 
to promote the interests af the wage earners of this 
country, I shall try my 'best to enlighten (if only 
in t'he outline) those who are not acquainted with 
the benefits of this working man's movement. I do 
not intend to exhaust every principle within the 
co-operative plan, nor am I capable of giving fig- 
ures which may be construed as being minute or 
up to date; but enough to convince every one that 
through the medium of co-operation lies the salva- 
tion of the workers, and if I learn that this article 
is being read by the class to which I 'belong, and is 



POEMS AND ESSAYS 

rhe means of causing some to think and act, I shall 
consider I have effected something without regard 
for reward or praise. As Shakespeare puts it: 

"He lives most who thinks most. 
Feels the noblest — -Acts the best." 

The Cause of Co-Operation. 

There is no new movement since man emerged 
from the depths of barbarisim and ignorance, 
neither political, religious nor social, but what had 
some cau:-e for its adoption, and while co-opera- 
tion, in different forms throughout the ages, has 
been practiced — such as barter or exchange — there 
was ample cause in Great Britain (where it was 
started) for starling some new form of distribution 
which would l>e beneficial to the working classes of 
that country. 

Co-operation, like trades unionism, has learned 
its lessons from the opposing force or cause of its 
existence; and for proof of this statement one onl\- 
needs to casually glance at the existing economic 
arrangements in whatever country he is located. 
Very little explanation is necessary to point at the 
chief cause of this advanced movement further than 
this, "that private trading and unrestrained monoj)- 
oly" was and is the sole cause why it should be 
adopted by the workers. 

The founder of true co-operation was Robert 
Owen, an employer of 'labor in New Lanark. Scot- 
land, and it is to his everlasting credit that he 
■'showed the way, the truth, and the light" to his 
workers, and made it possible for them to purchase 
direct "the best articles of food at the lowest possi- 
ble cost," or cost of production to put it plainly. 

Herein lies the secret and governing principle of 
co-operative progress, and not till the working men 
of this country realize its true value will their con- 
dition of living be much better. To be plain with 
you — iwhere co-operation does not exist and until if 
becomes a counteracting force you will always be 
the victims of private monopoly and wholesale rob- 
bery. 

There is no trade or grade in this country, in the 
ordinary sense, but what the wages of those en- 
gaged tlierein are liaible to change from time to 



FOR THE WORKERS 

time, the result of which is a hardship in conse- 
quence. To begin with, when an advance takes 
place, and in many instances long before it becomes 
a fact, the people wiho ihold the keys of food sup- 
ply and other articles necessary to human comfort, 
herald the tidings throughout the length and 
breadth of America, and the result is a correspond- 
ing advance in the cos.t of living, and instead of the 
man, who risks life and health for an existence, get- 
ting the benefit of that advance in the price of 
labor lit goes into the pockets of the storekeeper — 
company or private. 

One may ask why it is that the provision mer- 
chant so regulates the price of the necessaries of 
life to an extent incompatible with justice? But 
the answer is not far to seek. The private store- 
keeper has no oipposition, he holds the keys of dis- 
tribution, and you, in your helpless state must pay 
whatever price he cares to exact. 

When a reduction in wages takes place, is the 
effect so ipronounced? Is there a corresponding 
reduction in the price of food? Certainly not! 
With the advent of trade prosipenty, victualing (as 
I already stated) takes a gradual rise, but trade 
depression, generally speaking, has never brought 
the price of food down in conformity with the al- 
tered condition of things, and instead of the work- 
ers' position becoming easier and more comfort- 
able, according to society evolution, they are as 
much entrammeled as ever. 

Having regard to the "company store" business, 
which is a great institution in this country, it, in 
itself, is another form of profit-mongering and pri- 
vate enterprise. By supporting this form of distri- 
bution, the workers generally, and the miners par- 
ticularly, have become tools in the hands of big 
syndicates and corporations, and I am not going 
too far when I say that the work, or, if you will, 
the wages of the workers of such huge companies, 
is regulated according to the "house rent" or 
"store bill, ' and a corresponding regulation in the 
price of food according to trade. Company stores 
were never started (in any country) for the work- 
ers' benefit. In some cases they were, and are con- 
venient, but never 'philanthropic, and just so long as 
they are supported will they continue. 



POEMS AND ESSAYS 

iHundreds of families in this country, the heads 
of whi'ch are the wage earners, seldom ever see 
current co".n of the realm, or at least handle so 
little of it to provlide for outside expenses, that it 
is almost impossible for some to puit anything past 
for a rainy day. This being so, the toiler becomes 
an easy prey to exploiting capital and commercial 
intrigue, and 'when he is called upon to defend his 
trade or his interests, lor wages or conditions of 

employment ihe has either to take it "laying down" 
or face a bitter contest with his employer without 
visible means of support, if we except outside 
charity. When pay day comes the people who are 
attached and bound to company stores have very 
little trouble with money or its true value in an 
open competitive market. A "statement" is pro- 
duced, and alongside the owners' labor value is his 
food or household expenses, termed merchandise, 
and he is lucky if he has much more coming to him 
than his statement, which with his signature ends 
the transaction. How long are the workers of 
America going to tolerate such a state of things? 
Americans in general are credited with being a 
hard-headed people, (but can we honestly credit the 
American working man so far, when he allows 
himself to be robbed to such an extent? He ac- 
cepts the smile of the storekeeper (either company 
or private) as a matter of course, as tangible 
l)aunty for his custom, but the question of self pres- 
ervation he never gives five minutes' consideration, 
and the private trader is still safe within the con- 
fines of unrestricted profit-making robbery and 
greed. I must conclude this part of my sketch by 
reminding my readers, that sooner or later the 
laiboring classes of this country will have to turn 
their attention towards a remedy. In times of 
prosperity the pinoh is not so much felt as in times 
of traJde depression. As the old proverb reads. 
"Make hay while the sun shines." my advice to you 
is to strengthen your position while you have work- 
able means; because the day may not be far distant 
when you will be powerless to resist the onslaughts 
of dominant caipital, at a time when low wages and 
trade depression is a ruling factor in your midst. 



FOR THE WORKERS 55 

Effect of Co-Operatioii. 

A brief sketch will suffice to show the effect 
which the co-operative movement has had on the 
twentieth century working men in those countries 
where i't has been adopted. In France, Germany, 
Belgium and the mainland of Europe a marked 
amount of progress has been made on co-operative 
lines, and there are very few towns in these coun- 
tries but what has its standing memorial of what 
can be attained by oneness of spirit and united 
effort. 

In England and Scotland (and especially the lat- 
ter) I am better able to give you an opinion of 
what has been done by working men. Fifty or 
sixty years ago the conditions of labor and the 
wages were at such a low eibb that the working 
classes In England and Scotland were compelled to 
try something to make life worth living, and, "ne- 
cessity 'being the mother of invention" at all times, 
and more especially extreme cases such as this, it 
was either reform or revolu-tion. A few of the most 
courageous among the workers banded themselves 
together, and, with what money they could spare, 
or borrow from those who were friendly to the 
moveTnent, they started co-operation on practical 
lines, and while I must admit that some of those 
attempts were failures, either through want of suj)- 
port or courage on the part of the promoters, those 
failures through time proved of immense value, and 
were stepping stones to success. What says Confu- 
cius on this point: : 

"Our greatest glory is not in never failing. l)at 
rising every time we fall." 

Today in Britain the public generally and the 
laiboring classes in papti'cular, would ])e without 
their friend if co-operative stores were non-existent. 
The pioneers of co-operation had a hard uphill fight 
against the private trader for a considerable time, 
but today the memljers and managing officials are 
universally respected. 

WMthin the last thirty years the members of co- 
operative stores in Britain have earned in profits 
over $500,000,000 dollars, not to speak of the 
amount of good it has done in charitable and other 
directions. A glorious example to the workei^ of 

L OF C. 



POEMS AND ESSAYS 

other countries, well worthy of imitation. 

In Scotland, with a comlbination of small societies, 
they started, several years ago, what is known as 
the "Scottish Co-Operative Wholesale Society,'" to 
purchase in the open market direct articles of food, 
clothing, etc., etc. This move in itself has proved 
the greatest economic success of modern times. The 
turnover of money for the first year of its existence 
was a little over $400,000. Today it exceeds $25 - 
000,000, and the directors are forceful, active com- 
petitors in the food markets of the world. 

While this is all true about the marketing and 
distributive qualities of the Scottish Co-Operaitive 
Society, it does not end here. The means of pro- 
duction have also been acquired, and today the co- 
operators of that country are rivals in almost all 
of its markets. They own flour mills, dairies and 
preserve factories: factories for the mnnufacturo 
of tobacco, soap, boots and shoes, clothing, etc., 
and the medium through which its mem')crs are 
enaJbleld to ipur-chase firecoal, furniture' and articles 
of general household utility. Nor yet does its in- 
flueu'ce end here, its members have built quite :i 
number of workmen's houses in different i)arts of 
the country, and handed them over to members at 
the cost of production, a fact which could not have 
taken place unless for the help which co-operation 
affords. 

It is also true that they are in possession of un- 
disputed ground rights; but the latest achievement 
far outstiretclhes anything yet recorded in their his- 
tory, especially is it so in a country where ground 
ownership is only sacred to the few at the expense 
of the many. They have purchased an estate ex- 
tending to fully 1,100 acres, which, with its fix- 
tures (a castle no less) cosit them $175,000 dollars, 
for farming 'purposes — a glorious feat to be sure. 
but only in keeping with twentieth century progress. 

BuvSiness Qualities of the Maiiajj;onient. 

It may be asked by some about the business qual- 
ities of working men in such a colossal movement, 
but I don't need to refer you to men outside of the 
United iStates for an answer. 

You have your trades union leaders in every part 
of the country. Have they failed in their purpose 



FOR THE WORKERS 57 

to effect good? Are they not always capable of 
carrying out your instructions in whatever course 
your views tend? 

Have they n6t proven time and again worthy of 
every trust you have reposed in them? Certainly 
so! Then if they are capable of wringing from the 
operajtors a share of the fruits of your labor, surely 
the best seilection of the same class are as capable 
of seeing to it, that you get the best value in food 
stuffs, etc., for your hard-earned money. It is all 
very well to talk of business qualities and commer- 
cial training, and that these are essential to suc- 
cess, 'but opportunity, confidence and honesty are 
the greatest of all essentials, and I am safe in say- 
ing that if some of your fellow workers were given 
that opportunity they would be just as successful 
and more to your advantage, as T have already 
S'hown. 

In conclusion, fellow workers, I may say that 
these are some of my views and reasons for advis- 
ing you to start co-operation at the earliest con- 
venient date. Faith in yourselves and one great, 
set purpose is all that is necessary. Only a be- 
ginning on strictly business lines, and T am con- 
vinced it will prove of widespread advantage and 
worthy of imitation by others, as Ruskin says, "A 
little leaven leaveneth the whole lump," and 
while you may not all survive the full fruits of 
your efforts, you will bestow a blessing on your 
offspring, and leave the world better than you found 
it. Co-operation is as simple as it is far reaching. 
It brightens the lives and exalts the status of the 
workers. Its tendencies are enlightening. In 
short, it is the friend of the working man. 

DAVID B. ROBB. 






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